A Scullin man is behind bars after allegedly causing "serious harm" to a woman's pregnancy while forcibly confining, assaulting and threatening to kill her.
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Martin Carl Phillips, 35, was arrested in Melba on Tuesday afternoon following a police appeal for information on his whereabouts.
In a statement, ACT Policing alleged that Phillips assaulted a 20-year-old pregnant woman at a home in Macgregor about 5am on January 25.
He was also the subject of a report to police about 10.30am on Sunday, when officers were told he was holding the same woman against her will at the suburban Belconnen residence.
"Police were also advised that the offender had assaulted and threatened to kill the woman a number of times," ACT Policing said.
"Police attended the location and spoke with a number of people present. With the safety of the victim paramount, police helped the woman to a safe location.
"Police obtained statements from a number of people, which alleged further offences by the man."
Having been taken into custody about 2.45pm on Tuesday, Phillips appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.
He was formally charged with 12 offences over incidents that allegedly occurred between January 25 and 31.
The charges include three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and resulting in serious harm to a pregnancy.
The remainder of the charges, which all relate to the same alleged victim, comprise allegations of unlawful confinement, intentional wounding, assault, threatening to kill, possessing a hunting knife with intent, and theft of a mobile phone.
Police allege that Phillips committed the offences while on bail in respect of six unrelated charges that remain before the courts.
Phillips seemed agitated as he sat in a remote room on Wednesday and listened while Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker read out each of the 12 fresh charges.
The 35-year-old's lawyer, Dean Rutherford, told the court he planned to apply for bail and enter pleas on Friday.
As Phillips left the remote room in the custody of correctional officers, he said: "I love you, Mum."
His mother, who was sitting in the court's public gallery, choked back tears as she replied: "I love you, son."
The case is expected in court again on Friday morning.
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